Pull type swather frame

ABSTRACT

A pull type swather having double swath and enhanced operating to transport mode change capabilities. A subframe is mounted forwardly of a rear frame and the two are pivotally connected. The table of the swather includes a pair of draper decks operable to be independently moved relative to each other and to the table. A hitch is pivotally connected to the subframe and a hydraulic cylinder is operable to adjust the angle of the hitch relative to the table. The subframe is locked to the rear frame during operation and until the transport mode in desired wherein the subframe is unlocked and pivoted relative to the rear frame. Provision is made for automatically interchanging between the transport and operating modes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.069,423, filed on July 2, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,814.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a pull type swather or windrowerand, more particularly, to a pull type swather which features a doubleswath capability and enhanced transport to operation mode conversioncharacteristics.

As the size of wheat farms increases, it is desirable to reduce theamount of operator time in the field by enlarging operating machinery.In cutting a crop with a swather or windrower, it is clearly desirableto cut as much crop as possible with one pass of the swather so thattime of operator and equipment in the field can be reduced. Thus, thesize of swathers has increased over the last few years from ten andtwenty to forty feet in width and even wider.

While the increased width of swathers serves the function of decreasingfield time well, the size of large swathers has unattractive features.For example, the large size of such swathers in operation causestransportation problems as often the crop in the field is far removedfrom the location where the equipment is generally stored and it may benecessary to transport the swather along public roads and throughopenings designed for smaller vehicles. While a transport mode has beendesigned for many large swathers, such a mode requires variousrelatively large changes to the swather such as adding stabilizerwheels, wheel spindles, hitches and the like to avoid an unstableapparatus while the swather is under transport. This is undesirable froman efficiency and a cost viewpoint.

Yet a further undesirable feature of most large pull type swathers isthat only one swath, separated from another swath by a relatively largedistance, can be obtained. If a second swath is located adjacent a firstswath, the tractor may have to travel through the first swath which isobviously unacceptable. Two adjacent swaths are desirable in order toreduce the operating time of a combine which will subsequently gatherand thresh the swath. While double swath capabilities on pull typeswathers have been obtained, these are usually obtained only byextending the draper deck. Such an addition is expensive and bulky andthe complexity of the addition often may result in failure of theaddition in the field as well as poor swath formation.

Yet a further undesirable feature of present large swathers is that asground speeds increase and in travelling over rough terrain, the typicalsidewise extending operating position is difficult to maintain in itscorrect operating position because the moment created by the heavyweight of the swather will tend to create an angle between the swatherand a line normal to the pulling tractor. Such an angle causes cuttingdislocations and inconsistent swaths. To overcome this problem, anapproach used has been to lighten the machine which can result in thedeletion of attractive features such as table flotation, table liftcharacteristics and the like. This is clearly unsatisfactory.

Yet a further problem with pull type swathers relates to the flexibilityof laying the swath. With present pull type swathers, there is noability to lay a swath in the centre portion of the swather and, aswell, to also lay the swath at either end of the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a swathercomprising a frame, a table connected to said frame, a first draper deckon said table having a belt operable to move bidirectionally indirections substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidswather, a hitch pivotally connected to said frame about a substantiallyvertical axis and extension and retraction means connected between saidtable and said frame.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is disclosed amethod of obtaining a double swath using a pull type swather comprisingpivotally mounting a hitch to a swather about a vertical axis adjacentone end of said swather, moving the draper jack of the table of saidswather in a first direction, adjusting the angle between said hitch andsaid swather to obtain a first operating condition, moving said draperdeck of said swather in the opposite direction from said first directionand adjusting said angle between said hitch and said swather to obtain asecond operating condition.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is disclosed aswather comprising a frame, said frame including a rear frame and asubframe, said subframe being pivotally connected to said rear frame, ahitch connected to said frame about an axis and locking and releasemeans between said rear frame and said subframe.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is disclosed apull type swather comprising a frame, a hitch pivotally connected tosaid frame adjacent one end of said frame, a table connected to saidframe, a wheel assembly connected to said frame on said one end andweight mounting means located on said one end of said frame adjacentsaid wheel assembly.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is disclosed apull type swather comprising a frame, a table connected to said frame, ahitch pivotally connected to said frame, adjustment means to adjust theangle of said hitch relative to said table, a first draper deck mountedto said table, a belt for said draper deck, first power means to movesaid belt in a first direction and a second direction opposite to saidfirst direction and first movement means for said draper deck beingoperable to move said deck relative to said table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with the use of drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic plan view of the swather according to theinvention in an operating mode wherein a first is being laid;

FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic plan view of the swather of FIG. 1A butwherein a second swath is being laid;

FIG. 1C is a diagrammatic plan view of the swather of FIG. 1A butwherein a centre delivery swath is being laid;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the swather of FIG. 1 in thetransport mode;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the swather according to theinvention illustrating in greater detail the rear frame, subframe andtransport wheels and their associated elements in the operating modewith their transport mode positions illustrated in phantom;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the transport wheel and its operatingelements taken along IV--IV of FIG. 3 in the operating mode with itstransport mode position being shown in phantom;

FIG. 5 is a view of the subframe wheel and its operating element takenalong V--V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view of the rear frame wheel and its operating elementstaken along VI--VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged and exploded isometric view of the twin axiselements between the rear frame and the subframe;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 1A ofthe weights mounted on the rear frame;

FIG. 9A is a diagrammatic rear view of the table of the swather, drawerdecks and their associated operating elements; and

FIG. 9B is an enlarged partial view of various of the elementsillustrated in FIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a pull type swather is shown generally at10 in FIGS. 1 and 3 and is pivotally connected about axis 63 to a hitch31 which extends to a tractor 11. The swather 10 includes a set ofdraper decks generally illustrated at 12 and shown in more detail inFIG. 9 as well be explained hereafter. The draper decks 12 are mountedto a table 15 which table 15 is mounted to a frame generally shown at 13which comprises a rear frame 14 and a subframe 20, the table 15 beingmounted to the rear frame 14. A transport wheel assembly is generallyshown at 21 and in more detail in FIG. 4, the transport wheel assembly21 being pivotally mounted on the subframe 20 as will be explained ingreater detail hereafter. A rear frame wheel assembly is generally shownat 22 and in more detail in FIG. 6, the rear frame wheel assembly 22being mounted on the rear frame 14 as will be explained in greaterdetail hereafter. A subframe wheel assembly 25 is mounted on thesubframe 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 as will also be explained ingreater detail hereafter.

A weight mounting or attachment area generally shown at 23 in FIG. 3 islocated on the rear frame 14 near the connection area generally denoted24 between the rear frame 14 and the subframe 20 as illustrated moreclearly in FIG. 7 and as will be explained in greater detail hereafter.A series of weights 84 are located on the rear frame 14 as more clearlyseen in FIG. 8 adjacent the subframe wheel assembly 25 and on the end ofthe frame 13 which is closest to the pivotal connection of the hitch 31with the subframe 20 and as also explained in greater detail hereafter.

A hitch 31 is pivotally connected about a substantially vertical axis oneach of the subframe 20 of the frame 13 of the swather 10 and thetractor 11. The vertical axis 63 on the subframe 20 is located adjacentone end of the swather 10. An extension and retraction means by way of afirst hydraulic cylinder 32 is located between the hitch 31 and thesubframe 20 of the swather 10 and may be extended or retracted from aposition remote from the swather 10 to alter the angle between thesubframe 20 and the hitch 31 as clearly seen in FIGS. 1B and 1C.

With further reference to FIG. 9, the set of draper decks 12 comprise atwin set. Each of the first and second draper decks 12 has a belt 33mounted between a hydraulically driven drive pulley 34 and an idlerpulley 35 which are, in turn, individually mounted to draper frames 40movable on the table 15 of the swather 10. Respective movement means bythe way of hydraulic motors 41 are provided for each draper deck 12 toallow each draper deck 12 to move bidirectionally in directionssubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the swather 10 andrelative to the table 15 to each other. Each motor 41 is mounted on thetable 15 and drives a Pinion 36 which meshes with a respective chain 37connected between two points on each draper deck 12. The pinion andchain arrangement allows each draper deck 12 to be moved relative to thetable 15 and to each other.

Similarly, the hydraulic motors which drive the drive pulleys 34 of thebelts 33 may be reversed either independently or together such that thedirection of motion of the belts 33 may move simultaneously in onedirection or they may move in opposite directions. Referring to FIG. 1A,for example, it will be seen the direction of motion of the belts 33 isidentical for each belt 33, that motion being to the right which acts todeposit a swath at the right hand end of the swather 10. Referring toFIG. 1B, it will be seen that the direction of motion for the belts 33is also identical but in an opposite sense to the direction of motionseen in FIG. 1A. This motion acts to deposit a swath at the left handend cf the swather 10. Finally, referring to FIG. 1C, the belts 33 ofthe draper decks 12 are running in opposite directions and acting to laya swath between the two draper decks 12 and centrally of the swather 10.

The draper decks 12, as noted, may be moved with the chain and pinionarrangement relative to table 15 and to each other. In FIG. 1A, thedrawer decks 12 are illustrated as being adjacent each other in the lefthand side of the table 15 of swather 10 thereby leaving an open area atthe right hand end of the swather 10. In FIG. 1B, the draper decks 12are illustrated as being adjacent each other in the right hand side ofthe table 15 of swather 10 thereby laying a swath at the left hand endof the swather 10. In FIG. 1C, the draper decks 12 are separated so asto leave an open area in the central area of the swather 10 and therebybeing operable to lay a swath between the draper decks 12.

Referring now to the transport wheel assembly 21 which is shown in moredetail in FIG. 4, a tire 42 is mounted to an axle 43 which is held by afork 44. Fork 44 is pivoted at axis 50 and a hydraulic cylinder 51 isconnected between the fork 44 and the subframe 20. Hydraulic cylindermoves the fork 44 together with a locking and release means in the wayof a locking bracket 52 between the raised position indicated with solidlines which shows the transport wheel assembly 21 in its operating modeand the lowered position indicated with phantom lines which shows thetransport wheel assembly 21 in its transport mode.

In the operating mode, the locking bracket 52 retains a pin 45 connectedto the rear frame 14 which securely couple or lock the rear frame 14 andthe subframe 20 together in a substantially parallel relationship asseen in FIGS. 1 and 3. In the transport mode with the transport wheelassembly in its lowered position, the locking bracket 52 is disengagedfrom its contact with the pin 45 of the rear frame 14 such that the rearframe 14 and subframe 20 proceed in a substantially normal relationshipas best seen in FIG. 2. Thus, the locking bracket 52 is operable bymovement of the transport wheel assembly 21. Guide plates 55 areconnected to the subframe 20 into a parallel relationship with the rearframe 14 when the swather 10 is moved from the transport to theoperation mode and to deactivate the pivotal and relative movement ofthe rear frame 14 and subframe 20 about axes 75, 82.

The rear frame wheel assembly 22 of FIGS. 1 and 3 is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 6 and is connected to the rear frame 14. A tire 53 ismounted to a fork arm 54 by an axle 62, which fork arm 54 is connectedto rear frame 14 and which is pivotal about an axis 60. A hydrauliccylinder 61 is connected between the fork arm 54 and the rear frame 14.Hydraulic cylinder 61 is operable to move the fork arm 54 between theoperating mode position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 and the transport modeposition shown in FIG. 2 and in phantom in FIG. 6, which position isnormal to the operating mode position as is clear.

The subframe wheel assembly 25 of FIGS. 1 and 3 is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 5. The subframe wheel assembly 25 is not rotatable aboutthe axis 75 but, rather, maintains a continuous orientation on thesubframe 20 as illustrated. A tire 64 is connected by axle 70 to forkleg 71 which is securely mounted in the subframe 20 and maintained inthat position by a bracket 72 connected between the fork leg 71 and thesubframe 20.

The connection area 24 between the rear frame 14 and the subframe 20 ofFIG. 3 in its operating mode is shown in greater detail in FIG. 7. Thesubframe 20 is pivotally connected to rear frame 14 about axis 75 usingthe pin 73 which is part of the fork leg 71 of the subframe wheelassembly 25. Pin 73 is inserted through the lower leg 80 of bracket 74and thence through the pin receptacle 85 on subframe 20, through theupper leg 81 of bracket 74 where it is then retained by a retaining nut86. Bracket 74 is rotatable about the axis 82 of pin 83 and relative tothe rear frame 14 which also rotates about axis 82.

The weight attachment area 23 of FIG. 3 is illustrated more clearly inFIG. 8. A plurality of weights 84, only one of which is shown in FIG. 8,are connected to the rear frame 14 by attaching a weight lip area 90 toa receiving complementary extension 91 of rear frame 14. It isadvantageous to add the weights 84 to the rear frame 14 in a leftmostposition on the side of the rear frame 14 closest to the pivotalconnection of the hitch 31 and as close to the subframe wheel assembly25 as practicable. In this manner, a moment opposite to the momentcaused by the side draft of the swather 10 will be created which willact to enhance the retention of the true operating position of theswather 10. Depending on the operating conditions under which theswather 10 is to be used, an increase or decrease in the number of theweights 84 may be made.

In operation, it will be assumed that the swather 10 is in the operativemode and is in the condition illustrated in FIG. 1A. That is, the hitch31 is in the straight ahead position, the transport wheel assembly 21 isin the engaged or raised position, the rear frame wheel assembly 22 isparallel with the direction of travel and the two draper decks 12 arelocated adjacent to each other at the left hand side of the table 15.The belts 33 of the draper decks 12 will be travelling in a firstdirection which is the same direction; that is, the top surface of bothbelts 33 will be travelling to the right as seen in FIG. 1A and actingto lay a swath at the right hand end of the swather 10 as illustrated.

In addition, it will be noted that because of the engagement of thetransport wheel assembly 21 and, in particular, the locking bracket 52of that assembly, with the rear frame 14, the connection area 24 will berigid and no movement of the rear frame 14 relative to the subframe 20will be permitted about either of the axes 75, 82.

In addition, the operator of the tractor 11 with the attached swather 10will have decided on the number of weights 84 which may be desirable toadd to the rear frame 14 (FIG. 8) under the particular ground andweather conditions which he may expect to encounter.

It will again be assumed that the operator desires to lay a double swathfor ease of combining. The operator will commence to lay a first swathin a first operating condition as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Although theposition of the hitch 31 is illustrated in the straight ahead position,the operator may retract hydraulic cylinder 32 which will then adjustthe angle between the swather 10 and the table 15 to create an acuteangle between the hitch 31 and the longitudinal axis of the swather 10which is normal to the direction of the movement of the tractor 11 inorder to move the tractor 11 closer to the uncut crop.

As the operator proceeds around the field, he will encounter the firstswath. At this point, he will activate the chain and pinion arrangementfor the draper decks 12 and move the draper decks 12 under the influenceof the hydraulic motors 41, pinions 36 and chains 37, to the positionindicated in FIG. 1B, that is to a position opposite from the firstposition on the table 15 adjacent the right hand side of the table 15.The direction of movement of the top surface of both belts 33 will bereversed to take the direction of movement indicated by the arrow inFIG. 1B. The angle between the hitch 30 to the left with cylinder 32 sothat the tractor 11 will miss the swath cut from the previous round. Theoperator will then commence to lay the second swath at the left hand endof the swather 10 as illustrated in a second operating condition, thesecond swath being laid adjacent the first swath.

As the operator proceeds with the swathing operation, the weights 84which are attached to the rear frame 14 act as a counterweight therebycreating a counter moment to the sidedraft forces caused by the swather10. It will be noted that the weights 84 are mounted to the rear frame14 in a location as close to the subframe wheel assembly 25 as ispracticable (FIG. 3).

Following the completion of the swathing operation, the swather 10 willbe transported to a different location and, to that end, it will assumethe transport mode. With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, hydrauliccylinder 51 will be retracted which will lower tire 42 and fork 44 toallow tire 42 to contact the ground. The locking bracket 52 will bedisengaged from the pin 45 connected to the rear frame 14 which willthen allow relative movement between the rear frame 14 and subframe 20about axes 75, 82.

As the transport wheel assembly 21 disengages from the pin 45 and rearframe 14 and is lowered into its ground contact position, hydrauliccylinder 61 connected between the rear frame 14 and the fork arm 54 isextended such that the rear frame wheel assembly 22 assumes a finaltransport position as indicated in phantom in FIGS. 3 and 6 and asillustrated in FIG. 2. The operator will simply commence to tow theswather 10 which, under the towing force, will assume the position asillustrated in FIG. 2.

When the operator wishes again to assume the operating mode, he willreverse portions of the above procedure. He will move rearwardly untilthe subframe 20 has pivoted about axis 75 and is in a position parallelto the rear frame 14 with the guide plate 55 in position straddling therear frame 14 as illustrated in FIG. 4. He will then extend hydrauliccylinder 51 to raise the tire 42 and fork 44 with locking bracket 52until the locking bracket 52 becomes engaged with pin 45 on rear frame14. Simultaneously, hydraulic cylinder 61 will be retracted until therear frame wheel assembly 22 assumes the position shown in FIG. 3. Theswather 10 is then ready once again for the swather operation.

With reference to FIG. 1C, the draper decks 12 may assume the centreopen position illustrated if it is so desired. The operator willactivate the hydraulic motors 41 in opposite directions and the draperdecks 12 will assume the positions adjacent each respective side of thetable 15. The drive pulleys 34 will be given a direction of rotationsuch that the top surface of the belts 33 will move in oppositedirections so as to carry the crop to the centre of the swather 10 andto deposit it, again as illustrated in FIG. 1C.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention; however, concepts, as based uponthe description may be employed in other embodiments without departingfrom the scope of the invention. the following claims are intended toprotect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown.

We claim:
 1. A swather comprising:a frame including a rear frame and asubframe, said subframe being pivotally connected to said rear framesuch that said rear frame is movable relative to said subframe betweenan operating mode and a transport mode; a hitch connected to said frameabout an axis and adapted for connection to a prime mover providingoperable power for said swather; a transport wheel assembly pivotallysupported by said frame and engageable with the ground when said rearframe is moved into said transport mode, said transport wheel assemblybeing pivotally movable to a non-ground engaging position when said rearframe is in said operating mode; and locking and release meansselectively interconnectable between said rear frame and said subframeto control the movement of said rear frame relative to said subframebetween said operating mode and said transport mode, said rear framebeing locked to said subframe by said locking and release means whensaid rear frame is in said operating mode, said locking and releasemeans being operably associated with said transport wheel assembly toeffect a disconnection between said rear frame and said subframe whensaid transport wheel assembly is moved out of said non-ground engagingposition.
 2. A swather as in claim 1 wherein said transport wheelassembly is pivotally connected to said subframe.
 3. A swather as inclaim 2 wherein said hitch is connected to said subframe.
 4. A swatheras in claim 2 and further including a rear frame wheel assemblypivotally connected to said rear frame.
 5. A swather as in claim 4wherein said rear frame wheel assembly is movable between a firstoperating mode position and a second transport mode position, said firstoperating mode position being substantially normal to said secondtransport mode position.
 6. A swather as in claim 5 wherein themovements of said rear frame wheel assembly and of said transport wheelassembly are each controlled by a hydraulic cylinder.